RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2008-03927 

 INDEX CODE: 107.00 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

1. He be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). 

 

2. He be awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM). 

 

3. He be awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He was assigned to Okinawa from 1968 to 1970. During his 
assignment, his unit asked for volunteers to install fins and 
armament on 200, 400, and 750 pound bombs. At other times during 
his tour in Okinawa, he was asked to go on short TDYs (one to two 
week intervals) which included going to Thailand, Vietnam and the 
Philippines. 

 

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is questioning his membership 
eligibility. VFW membership is very important to him and his 
family. His step father started the XXXX VFW and his mother was 
a member of the same club. 

 

In support of his request, applicant provides a personal 
statement, a copy of a letter from the VFW, a copy of his 
membership card, and copies of his DD Forms 214, (Certificate of 
Release or Discharge from Active Duty). 

 

His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 15 April 1966 and 
was honorably discharged after serving a total of 11 years, 
5 months, and 2 days on active duty. He was subsequently 
transferred to the Air National Guard and was progressively 
promoted to the grade of master sergeant, having assumed that 
grade effective and with a date of rank of 1 May 1987. The 
applicant retired effective 2 March 2007. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 



 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial of Vietnam service credit since they 
were unable to verify the applicant ever served in Vietnam. In 
the second DPAPP evaluation, they asked the applicant to check 
his records to see if he had any documents that would verify his 
overseas TDY service. The applicant responded by sending a 
notarized statement from someone who was serving in the Navy when 
he met him while on rest and relaxation in Saigon. The applicant 
also sent a personal note with a copy of a photo of him with a 
friend he met while in Vietnam. However, DPAPP is unable to 
corroborate the information submitted by the applicant due to the 
member being in another service and they do not have the 
authority to request his records. DPAPP cannot identify the 
people in the photo or its location. 

 

The DPAPP complete evaluations, with attachments, are at Exhibit 
C and E. 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the VSM, SWASM, and RVCM. 
DPSIDR states they reviewed the applicant’s records; however, 
they cannot verify he served in Vietnam. 

 

The DPSIDR complete evaluation is at Exhibit D. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant responded by reiterating his original contentions; 
however, he submitted a notarized letter from the VFW Commander 
of Post 3317 attesting to the photo the applicant submitted with 
his request as being genuine. The applicant also provides a 
personal description about himself. 

 

In support of his rebuttal, applicant provides a personal 
statement, a copy of support letters, a copy of a photo, and a 
copy of Vietnamese money. 

 

His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit G. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

 

1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing 
law or regulations. 

 

2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the 
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 

 



3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. After a 
thorough review of the available evidence and the applicant’s 
complete submission, we are not persuaded that his records should 
be corrected to show he was awarded the VSM, SWASM, and RVCM. 
His contentions are duly noted; however, he has not provided 
persuasive evidence to warrant relief. Should he secure 
supporting documentation showing he was temporarily assigned to a 
unit in Vietnam, we would be willing to reconsider his 
application. Therefore, in the absence of persuasive evidence to 
the contrary, we find no compelling basis to warrant favorable 
consideration of his application. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that 
the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 
that the application will only be reconsidered upon the 
submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered 
with this application. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2008-03927 in Executive Session on 13 August 2009, 
under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 
 

The following documentary evidence was consiered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 30 October 2008, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 25 March 2009. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 7 May 2009. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 22 May 2009, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit F. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 July 2009. 

 Exhibit G. Letter, Applicant, dated 27 July 2009, w/atchs.